Work on U.S. 2 will affect traffic to, from airport

I-90 blasting

Rock-blasting closures on I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass will start at 7 p.m. today through Wednesday night, and then be suspended through the holiday weekend. The hourlong closures are part of a major widening of the freeway along Keechelus Lake.

A repaving project on U.S. Highway 2 is moving to a critical stage this week with work on the interchange serving Spokane International Airport.

Ramps near the airport will undergo closures for grinding and repaving. Most of the work will be between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Detours are going to be marked each night.

The work will affect Sunset Highway and Airport Drive. Drivers trying to get to and from the airport during the work hours should allow extra time for their trips, said Al Gilson, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.

Starting tonight, workers will grind pavement on the westbound on-ramp from Sunset Highway to U.S. 2; the eastbound off-ramp from U.S. 2 to Airport Drive and Sunset Highway and the westbound off-ramp from U.S. 2 to Sunset Highway.

The work will move to different locations on the interchange each night through Friday morning.

Then the job will take a break for the Labor Day weekend, resuming Sept. 3 at midnight.

Inland Asphalt Co. of Spokane has a $5.1 million contract for the repaving job from Interstate 90 to Espanola Road.

Appleway Trail work will begin today

Preliminary earthwork on the new Appleway Trail in Spokane Valley will start today.

Crews and equipment will get the trail route ready for construction this fall from University to Pines roads.

The trail is going into a former railroad right of way purchased by Spokane County. County commissioners in 2013 approved an agreement to allow for trail construction.

The land previously was a spur route of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, commonly known as the Milwaukee Road.

The trail will be developed as a green space.

Eighth Avenue will close to some traffic

In Spokane Valley, Eighth Avenue from McKinnon to Fancher roads will be closed to all but local traffic through mid-September for resurfacing and storm drainage work.

The intersection of Indiana Avenue and Sullivan Road will have lane restrictions on Wednesday and Thursday for pavement repair.

Repaving continues on Sprague Avenue in the vicinity of Vista and Herald roads. Westbound traffic is down to two lanes there.

Projects underway around Spokane

In Spokane, a project to replace a water main under the Greene Street Bridge will begin on Sept. 8 and last for six weeks.

The bridge and approaches will be reduced to one lane in each direction during construction.

Lincoln and Monroe streets will remain closed from Seventh to 17th avenues through mid-October for resurfacing and sidewalk work.

Also, the closure of High Drive continues from 29th Avenue to Bernard Street for reconstruction and other improvements.’

Pavement work continues on Grand Boulevard and adjacent streets with closures of adjoining streets during construction.

Bits and pieces

Rock-blasting closures on I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass will start at 7 p.m. tonight through Wednesday night, and then be suspended through the holiday weekend. The hourlong closures are part of a major widening of the freeway along Keechelus Lake.

• Elsewhere on I-90, crews are in the final stages of a major repaving project from Barker Road to the Idaho state line. Striping and shoulder work are scheduled for the week with crews starting at 7 p.m. and continuing until 6 a.m.

• The Spokane Regional Transportation Council has been honored with a joint planning award for its work on its 2040 metropolitan transportation plan. The award was given by the Washington chapter of the American Planning Association.

Spokane Valley is poised for growth with a balanced budget, a new city hall building and infrastructure improvements to lure new businesses to the city, Spokane Valley Mayor Rod Higgins said at a State of the City address on Wednesday.